Wild Azalea Challenge 27M - 1/5/19

This was my 4th time running the Wild Azalea Challenge, There are options of HM, 27M and 50M and having run the HM the first twice, I moved up to the 27M last year and ran it again this year. My DD and one of her running buddies were running the HM and I travelled with them and another 27M runner, Tonya.

The HM, 27M run and the mountain bike 27M & 50M are point to point, with the participants bussed to the start and then running or biking back to the finish. For the second time since I've taken part, one of the 2 busses hired (or borrowed) refused to start. No problem - this is a trail race - the one bus did double duty and the race start times were adjusted accordingly. The 27M went off at 8.45am rather than 8.30am and the HM started at 9.30 instead of 9.00. The race is run through a National Forest and the partial government shutdown resulted in the normal finishing place (the day use center) being closed, so the finish was moved to a dead end public side road and, in a nod to the Barkleys, you finished by touching the (locked) forest service gate.

There had been over 4 inches of rain on Weds/Thurs this week, so the trails were muddy in places. Strava shows 2472ft of elevation gain. It was 34F before the start and 66F at the finish.

The 50 mile runners do an out and back from the finish, but started prompt at 6.00am. As a result we met them 5-10 miles into our race and around 20 miles into theirs. I had noticed that Gene Dykes who recently set an AG marathon record for the 70-74 AG (marathon run in 2:54 and a few seconds) was amongst the 50 mile starters, so I took the opportunity to congratulate him as we crossed.

After a 30 minute bus ride from the finish to the start, we had the comfort of the local church hall while we waited for our start - they had bananas, oranges and hot chocolate and, most importantly lots of indoor bathrooms! They started the mountain bikes first - they said to give them enough head start that they wouldn't get in our way, but I think it was really to let the local police car and fire chief vehicle accompany them to the trailhead and return for the runners. As soon as the escort returned, they lined up the runners and after a few words of encouragement we were on our way. The first 1.6 miles is on the road and I found myself gradually moving forward so by the time we entered the trail I was in 15th place - my pace for the road section had been just over 9 minutes per mile - close to my HM pace! Once we got onto the Wild Azalea trail I quickly lost contact with the group ahead of me and those behind, so the next few miles were just me, the trail and the mud. I had started the race with 2 long sleeve shirts over a short sleeve shirt, but the long sleeves came off at miles 4 & 9 as the day warmed up. I met the 50 mile runners still headed out at about 20 miles on their run and wondered whether I should try the 50 next year.

At the self-service aid station at mile 12 another runner caught up to me and headed on ahead of me. Just as I left the aid station, I caught sight of my friend Tonya arriving. Tonya was running this as a training run for a 100K next month and is somewhat younger and faster, so I was surprised I was still ahead of her at this point and determined to see if I could hold her off for another mile or two. This maybe gave me the impetus to catch and pass back the lady that overtook me and a man who had already dropped to walking long sections. I was still in 14th place according to my reckoning when I arrived at the only manned aid station (mile 15) but they said I was 13th - perhaps someone got lost on the trail? I took my time at the aid station, but declined to participate in the tamale eating contest they were running. I've since found out that the record for 27 mile runners is only 4 tamales, so I may have to start training to challenge that record next year.

At the next aid station at 18 miles, Tonya finally passed me and disappeared into the distance. The hills seemed to be getting higher and steeper and the muddy sections more frequent and wetter and my thoughts had changed from doing 50 miles next year to thinking I should have only done the HM this year.

As I left the 21 mile aid station, I caught sight of another runner getting close and that helped me pick up the pace for a while until I finally conceded a place at about mile 24 - local ultrarunner that organizes several of the areas 100M, 100K & 50K races, so I didn't feel too bad that she beat me. Two further runners passed me before the finish, but as they were the leaders in the 50M that had started 2:45:00 before my 27M, I was not concerned by them leaving me in their dust - or mud. Short finishing section on a disused campground access road and I reached the finishing (locked) gate at around 6:08 which was over 30 minutes slower than last year. As I was the last of our group to finish (DD and her RB finished the HM in a little over 4 hours) and that the beer keg was empty, we didn't remain at the finish for long.

Result: 15/29 overall in 6:08:29

I ran the Cupcake Chase 5k in Phoenix on saturday. It was a neat race since it was along a course (running along a canal) that i ran a lot back when I was in high school 45 years ago. lots of memories.

The race went good, it was nice that it was virtually totally flat, since my knee has a lot of problems going down a slope. My time was 21:13 and I was first in the 50+ age group. A lot of fun going back where I grew up but now i am back in Minnesota.

This gives me now 202 consecutive months with a race.